Watch-case



(Model.)

0. K. GILES..

WATCH UA$E.

No. 365,986. Patented July 5, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

CHARLES K. GILES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WATCH-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,986, dated July 5,1887.

Application filed Ocibrr22, 1885. Serial No. 180,674. (IModcL) To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES K. GILES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvementsin \Vatch Oases,whicharefully set forth and described in the annexed specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in whioh- Figure 1 represents aface view of a watchcase embodying my present improvements, the frontcap being thrown open and a portion of the crystal broken away; Fig. 2,a section of the same taken on the line 00 m, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a plansection of the same taken on theline 3 3 Fig. 2, with the case-liningand ring-center removed; Fig. 4,a section of the same taken on the line.2 z and looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 3; Fig. 5, anelevation of the catch and lifting-spring detached; Fig. 6, anelevation, partly in section, of the case-lining and crystal detached;Fig. 7, a section of the case taken on the line a c, Fig. 1, the liningbeing removed; and Fig. 8, a similar section, showing a modification inthe attachment of the center to the case-body.

My invention relates to certain improvements in watch-cases, beingespecially adapted to a closed or hunter case. I

The object of the invention is to provide a dust-proof case, which inthis instance is obtained by means of a case-lining within which themovement-ring is placed and to which the crystal-bezel is attached,thereby providing a complete protection for the movement within thecase, and also a movement-box for exhibition separate from thecase-body.'

The invention also includes an improvement in the construetion of thecase-body and ring-eenter.

I will proceed to describe in detail one way in which I have practicallyembodied my invention, and will then definitely state in claims thespecial improvements which I believe to be new and wish to protect byLetters Patent.

In the drawings, A represents the casebody, which is cup-shaped, theannular body a and the back cap, a, being made in one piece, orpermanently secured to each other, as seen in Fig. 4. of the drawings.About midto be turned down within the cup.

to the lining.

itupon the latter, beingmade to fit tightly; or

the two parts may be threaded, in which case the center is turned uponthe body until it isproperly seated against the flange. It will be seenthat in either case the center is attached directly to the case-body,and secured thereon independently of any separate retaining part, as isthe case in the construction set forth in Letters Patent No.308,S40,grante'd to me Deeember 2, 1884.

These two constructions are shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings,respectively, and either may be used with the other partsof my presentinvention.

In stem-winders the windingstem will of course pass through the centerand case-body A, and to a certain extent aid in holding them together inproper position. The front cap, G, is hinged to the ring-center, and asingle circular spring, D; is at one end made to form a lifting-spring,d, for the front cap, and at the other end a spring-catch, d, for thesame. These springs may be made in separate pieces; but it will be seenthat here they are combined in one piece or single spring, whiehissecured in a suitable recess or cavity, (1 cut in the case-body for thispurpose. This latter construct-ion I prefer, although any approved formof spring may be employed, the same forming no part of my presentinvention.

A case lining, E, is provided, which is adapted to be set within theease-body from the front. This liningis cup-shaped, as shown in Fig. 2of the drawings, and a movenientring, F, is hinged to its margin andadapted This ri ng is of course constructed to receive the movement,which is attached to itin any usual way, and so may be swung out and inwith the movement as the ring is turned on its hinge rela-' tively tothe cup. The lining is provided with a snap-flange around its margin, bymeans of which the crystal'bezel G is secured directly This bezel holdsthe crystal g in the usual manner, and when applied to the lining-cupprojects somewhat beyond the edge thereof, so that when put within theease this projecting portion of the bezel is seated upon the upper edgeof the case-body, and so supports an holds the lining-cup andmovementring within. If the case is for astem-winder, the windingstempasses through the cup-lining, thereby assisting to hold it in position.As shown in the drawings, the stem also passes through themovementa-ing, and so the latter is hinged just over the winding-stem;but this construction and arrangement of the winding stem, ring, andhinge are merely arbitrary, and not essential to the presentimprovements. The front cap, G, closes down over the crystalbezel andcompletes the case.

It will be seen from the above description that the crystal-bezel may besecured to the lining-cup before the latter is placed within the case,so that the lining, with or without the movement-ring hinged thereto,and the crystal-bezel and crystal make a complete inclosing-box for themovement independent of the case. These parts thus constructed andarranged may be used as a box for holding-and exhibiting the movement,and without further change may be placed in position in the casebody,described above, by simply setting it within the latter from the front.

The box formed by the case-lining, crystal, and erystal-bezel removedfrom the case is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. It will be noticedthat this box may be set in position in the case withoutdisplacing anyof its parts, and that the same is true in regard to removing it fromthe case. It is taken out and replaced as an entirety. The case also isundisturbed in these operations. The box is removed and replaced atpleasure without detaching or changing any part of the case, except thewind ingstem, if the case is a stem-winder. In a prior application, No.163,659, filed April 27, 1885, I have shown a box formed in a some whatsimilar way from the case-lining, crystal, and crystal-bezel. I have notclaimed this improvement, however, in said application, and do notintend so to do, as I desire to make it one of the special features ofthe invention set forth and claimed in the present case. Theconstruction shown in my earlier application, mentioned above, alsodiffers from the present in that the box formed from the parts mentionedcannot be placed within the case or taken out thereof without removi ngsome parts of both the case and box. In this respect the constructionhere shown and described is preferable to that shown in the earlierapplication.

I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself to the particularconstruction and arrangement of all the parts as herein de scribed andshown, for they may be modified in some respects without losingtheimportant features of my invention, and I contemplate suchmodifications, changes, and substitutions as may be found necessary inthe practical manufacture of cases containing in whole or part theimprovements herein set forth and claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A cup-shaped case-body formed in asingle piece and having an exteriorhorizontal flange some distance back of its front edge, in combinationwith a ring-center applied to the front portion of the case-body, seatedon the flange andseeured directly to the case-body independently of theother portions of the ease, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

2. The outer or main case, A, cup-shaped and provided with an externalhorizontal flange, a, in combination with an independent ringcenterseated on said flange, and a front cap hinged to the ring-center,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. A eup-shaped outer or main ease, in combination with a cup-shapedlining adapted to set within said ease, and a crystal-bezel secured tothe margin of the lining, whereby the said caselining and bezel may beset within the case and removed therefrom without detaching the bezel,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4-. The outer or main case, A, cup-shaped and provided with an internalseat at its front edge, in combination with the cup-shaped lin ing E,adapted tobe placed within the said case from the front, and the bezelG, secured to the margin of the lining and seated upon the said internalseat of the case, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. The outer or main case, A, cup-shaped and provided with an 4 externalhorizontal flange, in combination with the independent ring-center B,fitted to the front portion of the ease and seated on said flange, thecup-shaped lining E, fitted within the said ease, the crystal-bezel G,secured to the margin of the said lining and seated in the case, and thefront cap, 0, hinged to the ring-center, substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

' CHARLES K. GILES.

Vitnesses:

JOSEPH HARDIE, Josnrir IIARR Is.

